Photo-copying apparatus



April 20, 1965 R. A. GORDON 3,179,031

I PHOTO-COPYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 S Sheets-Sheet l Jig- 1 INVENTOR. fizz 750A. 0220 April 20, 1965 R. A. GORDON 3,179,031

PHOTO-COPYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 tl lit 1 N VEN TOR. iffy/7501?. 50520.4

April 1965 R. A. GORDON 3,179,031

PHOTO-COPYING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV EN TOR.

(Wm 12p A: aaz m United States Patent M 3,179,031 PHGTfi-COPYING APPARATUS Richard A. Gordon, 95 W. 3rd St., Freeport, NY. Filed Dec. 14, 1952, Ser. No. 244,698 4 Claims. (Cl. 95-73) This invention relates to a photo copying apparatus having a number of novel features. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 215,570, filed August 8, 1964 covering similar subiect matter.

The instant apparatus of this invention is designed for use in the conventional transfer dilfusion process of photo copying wherein a photo sensitive sheet is exposed in juxtaposition with the material to be copied and a transfer sheet is then passed through a developing agent in juxtaposition with the photo sensitive sheet. After both sheets leave the developing agent they are compressed and the negative image transferred to the transfer sheet, thereby producing a positive copy.

The transfer diffusion process is now in the public domain since the patents covering said process have long since expired. Normally photo copying equipment taking advantage of the transfer diffusion process generally consists of a roller about which the material to be copied in juxtaposition with the photo sensitive material and transfer sheet is disposed, actinic light exposure means are operatively connected with the roller device and, as the roller turns, the package referred to above is passed across the exposure means.

The material to be copied is then removed and passed through a developing liquid which is disposed within a liquid container in the apparatus. Curved separator blades are provided to guide the photo sensitive and transfer sheets through the developer liquid to an adjacent pair of rollers which are located within the housing.

After the sheets pass through the rollers they are then separated, the negative sheet discarded, and the positive sheet allowed to dry.

The conventional apparatus referred to above has a number of significant disadvantages. In the first place the placing of the rollers within the housing permits a buildup of salts carried thereto from the developer container. As a result, unless the machine is disassembled and cleaned, these developing salts will cause slippage of the copy thereby preventing proper feeding or may actually jam the rollers so as to render the machine inoperative. With the present structure the rollers may be easily cleaned by merely taking a damp cloth and running the cloth along the rollers while the rollers are turning.

The conventional method of feeding the package con sisting of the material to be copied and photographic sheets is most disadvantageous. Many times an operator may place the material upon the rollers in the wrong order, that is, he may cause the light to reach the photographic sheet from, the wrong direction. Furthermore the use of the direct roller feed causes slippage of the photographic sheet from the sheet to be copied so that a blurred copy is produced.

The use of curved separator blades is likewise a great disadvantage since it is difiicult to clean these blades by reason of the fact that developer material becomes lodged within the curves. In the instant invention, because than Patented Apr. 20, 1965 straight separator blades are used, these blades can be easily cleaned.

The invention also includes an additional feature of simply adjusting means for controlling the strength of the actinic light falling on the photo sensitive material and the material to be copied. These means consist of an opaque cover which is pivotally movable about the light source and is provided with a longitudinal opening therewithin. Means are provided to pivot the cover about the light source.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent to the reader of this specification as the description proceeds.

The invention will be'further described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photo copying apparatus made in accordance with this invention with the carrier member thereof in operative engagement with the remainder of the machine.

FiG. 2 is a sectional view of the form of apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1 with the direction of movement of the carrier member diagrammatically indicated.

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of the roller means which drive the carrier member of this invention taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the form of photo copying apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with portions of the apparatus broken away so as to show the internal structure.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the exposure control mechanism of this invention with the fluorescent bulb associated therewith shown in diagrammatic form.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the carrier member of this invention with the material normally placed between the plates of the carrier member shown in diagrammatic form and with a portion of the bottom plate broken away so as to show the internal structure.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken through the carrier of FIG. 6 but wherein the carrier through which the sec tion is taken is in normal operative position rather than in exploded form. This section is taken along lines 7-7 of FlG. 6 as modified by the above.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail bottom plan view of the carrier member of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a detail side view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the photographic and the transfer sheets pass through the liquid container of this invention and are compressed by the rollers.

FIG. 10 constitutes a circuit diagram of the electrical controls of this invention.

The invention will now be further described by specific reference to the form shown in the accompanying drawings. In this connection the reader is cautioned to note that such specific form is for illustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changes and modifications may obviously be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and would occur to those skilled in this art.

The photo copying apparatus 11 of this invention is formed with a housing 12. A liquid container 13 is disposed within housing 12 and is adapted to contain developer liquid 14 which is used to carry out the conven- Q tional transfer diffusion process. A pair of spaced straight separator blades are partially disposed Within liquid container 13. A plurality of paper guiding blades 16 are also disposed within liquid container 13.

A first pair of longitudinally disposed rollers 17 and 17a are disposed outside of housing 12. Roller 17 bears a centrally disposed shaft 18 and an outer envelope 19 while roller 17:: bears a centrally disposed shaft 13:; and an outer envelope 1%. One end portion of shaft 13 rotates within bearing 8 while the opposite end portion of shaft 18 rotates within bearing '7. One end portion of shaft the rotates within bearing while the opposite end portion of shaft 130 rotates within bearing 7a. A pair of gears 9 and 9a are press-fitted on shafts l3 and 18a adjacent bearings 7 and 7a. A pair of housings 23 are disposed at opposite ends of shafts 18 and 13a and abut the bearings disposed about the end portions of said shafts. Housings '23 are also adapted to support a pair of springs 23 which abut bearings 7a and 8a and thereby, in normal operation, bias outer envelope 1% against outer envelope l9. Bearings '7, 7a, 3, and 8a and gears 9 and 9a are preferably made of nylon for quietness and ease of operation. Outer envelopes 1 and 1% are made of resilient material preferably rubber.

Motor 22 bears shaft 24 which in turn bears 25 at one end and second gear 26 at its opposite end. Lon i tudinal pr spelling roller 27 is formed with a shaft 28 d an outer envelope 2). The opposite end portions of shaft 28 are adapted to rotate within bearings 53 and 6. A pair of springs 33 are located within housings and bear against bearings 5 and 6 thereby normally iasing outer envelope 29 of roller 27 toward base plate Shaft 23 also bears third gear 3% adjacent to the position of bearing 5. Gears 2%, 26 and 3 6 are connected to one another by means of chain drive 3i.

Base plate 32 is secured to supports 3 and 4 located within housing 12 by means of screws (not shown).

Liquid container 13 is provided with a drain opening 35 which in turn is connected to a flexible tube 36. Tube 36 is normally pinched in closed position within opening 37 of housing 12 but may be removed therefrom and opened in order to drain the liquid 14 out of container 313.

A fluorescent tube 33 is disposed within housing 12. An opaque cover 39 is provided with a longitudinal opening 4%) and is disposed about tube 33. A handle 41 is secured to opaque cover 39 and projects through a slot 42 provided within housing 12). The mechanism comprising the cover and adjacent tube constitutes light control means since movement of the cover controls the angle of incidence of the light rays upon the carrier member and thus control the exposure.

A carrier member 43 is formed with a first plate 44 and a second plate 45. Plates 44 and 35 may be translucent but are preferably transparent and are preferably made of plastic material. First plate 4-4 is formed with a downwardly tapering end portion 46 and an outwardly projecting opposite end portion 47. First plate 44 is also provided with an intermediate recess it? having a bottom 49 and opposite edge portions 50 and El. Recess 48 is also formed with an overhanging portion 52 at one edge portion 5t) thereof, and provided with a circular opening 53a which is cut completely through plate 44 and wherein its diameter lies along edge portion 51.

The underside of the bottom portion 49 of plate 44 is formed with a plurality of spaced downwardly projecting rib members 53 thereupon.

Second plate 45 is also formed with a downwardly tapering end portion 54 which normally lies within overhanging portion 52 of plate 4 3 (HO. 7). Plate 45 is also formed with a lateral angular cut-out portion 55.

With the foregoing description the operation of this invention may now be explained. The material to be copied (marked original in FIG. 6) is placed between a photo sensitive sheet 55 and a transfer sheet 57. While it is possible merely to expose the photosensitive sheet in Cir juxtaposition with the material to be copied and pass the exposed sheet and a transfer sheet through the developing liquid the above method is preferable since it keeps the sheets in proper alignment for the subsequent step. The package consisting of the original sheet sandwiched between sheets 56 and 57 is placed within recess 48 located within first plate 44. Second plate 45 is then slid into position upon first plate so as to provide a completed carrier member. Handle 41 is then set to proper position which will depend upon the material to be copied and switch 5% turned on. As gear 26 revolves it moves all of the operative parts of the macl inc and carrier 43 is placed in abutting relationship with roller 27. Carrier 43; is then propelled transversely through the apparatus in juxtaposition with bulb 3% so that exposure occurs. Carrier 43 is propelled through the apparatus by roller 27. When roller 27 meets the end of carrier 43 it tends to throw carrier 43 therepast and thus causes carrier 43 to be propelled out of the apparatus. The removal of carrier 43 after it has completed the exposure step may be aided manually. When carrier 43 has completed its exposure run plates 45 and are separated, the original removed from between sheets 56 and 57, and sheets 56 and 57 are then placed between separator blades 15 (FIG. 9). Sheets 56 and 57 are then passed through developer l t and are guided by members 16 in juxtaposition with rollers 17 and 17a. These rollers exert a compressive force against sheets 56 and 57 and also propel these sheets through the liquid container. When sheets 56 and 57 have passed through rollers 17 and 17a they are allowed to stand for a short period of time and are then separated. The negative is discarded and the positive allowed to dry and utilized.

The foregoing description shows how the results set forth in this invention are achieved.

I claim:

1. A carrier member for use in a photo copying apparatus for supporting light sensitive material in juxtaposition with the material to be copied. said carrier member comprising a first translucent plate having a downwardly tapered end portion, said first plate being also provided with an intermediate cut-out portion and also having an overhanging portion at one end of said cut-out portion, and a second translucent plate having a downwardly tapering end portion normally lying within said cut-out portion of said first plate with said downwardly tapering end portion within said overhanging portion.

2. A carrier member for use in a photo copying apparatus for supporting light sensitive material in juxtaposition with the material to be copied, said carrier member comprising a first translucent plate having a downwardly tapering end portion and an outwardly projecting opposite end portion, said first plate being also provided with an intermediate recess therewithin having a bottom and opposite edge portions, said recess also having an overhanging portion at one edge portion thereof, handle means upon the outwardly projecting end portion of said first plate, a second translucent plate having a downwardly tapering end portion normally lying within recess of said first plate with said downwardly tapering end portion of said second plate normally lying within said overhanging portion of said first plate.

3. A carrier member as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second plate is also provided with a lateral angular cut-out portion.

4. A carrier member for use in a photo copying apparatus for supporting light sensitive material in juxtaposition with the material to be copied, said carrier member comprising a first transparent plate having a downwardly tapering end portion and an outwardly projecting opposite end portion, said first plate being also provided with an intermediate recess therewithin having bottom and opposite edge portions, said recess also having an overhanging portion at one edge thereof, said first plate being also provided with a circular opening cut thorothrough having its diameter along the opposite edge portion of the recess Within said first plate; handle means upon the outwardly projecting portion of said first plate; a second transparent plate having a downwardly tapering end portion normally lying Within the recess of said first plate with said downwardly tapering end portion of said second plate normally lying within said overhanging portion of said first plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 3/57 Eisner et a1 95-775 6/61 Reick 95-89 9/61 Reick 95-775 3/ 62 Stuckens 95-775 9/ 62 Limberger 95-89 9/ 63 Lernberger 95-89 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/58 Canada.

1 1/ 61 Germany.

10/ 60 Italy.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER MEMBER FOR USE IN A PHOTO COPYING APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING LIGHT SENSITIVE MATERIAL IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH THE MATERIAL TO BE COPIED, SAID CARRIER MEMBE COMPRISING A FIRST TRANSLUCENT PLATE HAVING A DOWNWARDLY TAPERED END PORTION, SAID FIRST PLATE BEING ALSO PROVIDED WITH AN INTERMEDIATE CUT-OUT PORTION AND ALSO HAVING AN OVERHANGING PORTION AT ONE END OF SAID CUT-OUT PORTION, AND A SECOND TRANSLUCENT PLATE HAVING A DOWNWARDLY TAPERING END PORTION NORMALLY LYING WITHIN SAID CUT-OUT PORTION OF SAID FIRST PLATE WITH SAID DOWNWARDLY TAPERING END PORTION WITHIN SAID OVERHANGING PORTION. 